| Abstract: | Presents an example of countertransference in mother–infant dyadic psychotherapy based in the value expressed as "A mother takes care of her child." Once this social value is brought to conscious awareness, the interfering nature of this countertransference is recognized. The therapist is freed to work with the mother toward her underlying treatment goal, which is to "be a good mother." If she is not emotionally capable of being the child's primary caretaker, the objective of enhanced attachment can be abandoned and "being a good mother" can be translated into "allowing the child to have a competent caretaker." The treatment objective can become the mother's emotional separation from her infant. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
